Cleanup being conducted at a W.R Grace vermiculite manufacturing site in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania has been halted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the remainder of the winter season. According to a letter sent to town officials from a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Western Response Branch cleanup will reconvene in the spring when the weather is more favorable.

W.R. Grace processed vermiculite to be used in insulation from 1954 to 1969. It was later discovered that the vermiculite that came from their Libby, Montana site was contaminated with asbestos. It is for this reason that the vermiculite site located on Factory Avenue in Ellwood city was sighted for cleanup.

Exposure to asbestos-containing materials can lead to the development of any one of a number of asbestos-caused diseases. Due to the significantly long latency period of diseases caused by the harmful toxin treatment options for those exposed are often very limited. Diseases that can be caused by the toxin include but are not limited to asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.

Many residents surrounding the Libby mine have since developed asbestos-related diseases.

The cleanup has been going since October and the hill behind the Elwood City Moose hall has been covered with 2,600 tons of fresh soil that goes approximately twelve inches deep.

According to officials the site will be monitored by Environmental Protection Agency representatives in order to ensure that the site remains secured during the delay in cleanup

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